Scissors shape collector for electric vehicles



' M y 1 1932- A. COUWENHOVEN 1,858,359

SGISSORS SHAPE COLLECTOR FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES File'd Hay 14,.1928' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 17, 1932- A. COUWENHOVEN 1,858,359 SCISSORS SHAPE COLLECTOR FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES I Filed llay 14, 1928 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 -WH haven INYQNT'OR Patented May 17, 1932 5:

UNITED STATES ABRAHAM COUWENHOVEN', or BADEN, sWIrzEnmnn-nssmnonTo AKTVIENGESELLV- SCHAJFT' BROWN, BOVERI AND ora or, apnn, SWITZERLAND sorssons SHAPE COLLECTOR FoR EnEorRIc vEHIcLEs Application filed May 14, 1928, Serial No. 277,721", and in Ger ny May is; 1927.

in the erection or any twisting of the collector frame due to external influences, serious binding may be produced in the joints of the scissors. The frictional forces thus produced detrimentally affect the functioning of the collector to which must be added the further disadvantage of an increase in the weight of the moving parts due to the reinforcing members themselves. For overcoming these disadvantages it has already been proposed to connect the upper scissors arms of only one half of the collector by transverse struts and diagonals to form a rigid frame, but to use the arms of the other half of the collector as simple compression members. Although this arrangement reduces the liability of binding in the joints, it does not completely remove this difliculty.

By the present invention a scissors-shape collector is produced in which binding in the joints is entirely avoided. According to the invention this is effected by the transverse reinforcement of the scissors being constituted without rigid connections by means of diagonals pivotally connected to the upper scissors arms. Between the upper scissors arms of each half of the collector a single diagonal is provided, which is pivotally connected to the said arms, whereby a statically simple determined structure is created and the scissors can be twisted Without causing binding friction in the joints.

A constructional example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being a perspective view and Fig. 2 a plan view.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a typical joint partly in section between the scissors member and a diagonal;

Fig. 4 shows a similar view of a typical joint? between the scissors members them- Fig. 5 is a perspective view partly in section of a typical joint between a scissors member anda diagonal;

Fig. 6 is'a'similar view to that of Fig. v5 of.

anotheritypeof joint forthe same purpose; and a Fig. .7 is; a similar view to. that shown i Figr'fi of anothertype .of joint and for the same purpose. a

r The underframe arms of the two scissors a and-b. of; the collector are journalled: in the usual manner on the vehicle and are acted on by erecting springs. e. is the bow mounted on the upperjoints of the scissors, which bow is kept in the vertical position by means of sep a:

rate springs. The upperscissors arms a b of one half of the. collector are connectedto.

one another by ,thediagonal c and the arms a 6 of the other half of the collector by the diagonald. The diagonals c and (Z are pivotally connected to the scissors arms.

The scissors of the present device are not rigid, the separate scissors, and the various arms of same being capable of moving independently of one another, while the relative distance of each pair of scissors and their transverse reinforcement tained. When during erection a collector of, this kind is not mounted perfectly horizontal, it will still be able to rise and fall without any binding friction in the joints, as each pair of scissors arms are capable of moving independently of one another, the diagonals adjusting themselves at any inclination necessary in their pivotal connections. The vertical mobility of the two pairs of scissors, or the scissors arms with respect to one another is limited by the play of the diagonals at the pivotal connections. The current collector, and each pair of scissors are capable of yielding vertically, when the overhead wire does not lie exactly over the middle of the bow, for instance in curves, when the two scissors are unequally loaded. In order to avoid all binding at the pivotal connections of the diagonals it is preferable to make the pivot holes of the latter barrelled, so that they have the mobility of a ball bearing on is main-v hicles with transverse reinforcement consistthe pivots and can adjust themselves readily as illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings. The pivots 7 may be mounted on shackles g or sleeves which are fixed rigidly so as to be rotatable on the scissors arms f The joints between the diagonals, and the scissors arms may also have the form of uni: versal joints as in Fig. 7 of the drawings. In this case the diagonal member 01 is pivoted at h to a rotatable member 7'; which inturn; A is pivoted by means of'the pintle'k in the-- shackle Z. The shackle Z is in turn mounted on scissor member 6 The other joints'ofthe scissors will also suitably be given a ball joint movement on the pivots,'by making the pivot holes barrelled as illustrated in Fig. 4ofthe drawings, or they may be made of the type shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

WVhat I claim is: r A scissors shape collector for electric veingof diagonal members, wherein the diagonal members are articulated to the upperscissors arms, the upper scissors arms of each half of the collectorare connected by'a singlediagonal member and the pivotal points of the diagonal members are so formed that the scissors of one collector and its arms are capable of being twisted without causing binding friction in the joints, said diagonal'memg bers having a ball joint movement: on the pivots.

In testimony whereof I name to this specification; ABR-AHAM COUWENHQVEN.

have signed my 

